Talk to Me Right!

Software development is challenging because as a technical team, we have to figure out what to do, do it, and then make sure we’ve done it right. And each step requires effective communication. In this talk, we’ll look at various tools and techniques that can help propel your career by making you a more effective technical communicator.

Learn what forms of communication are the most important to automate and which require a personal touch in your team’s daily activities. We’ll also discuss how you can best structure meetings to achieve your team’s goals. Finally, we’ll review some common challenges to effective communication and how you can navigate them successfully.

Our coworkers aren’t all robots yet. Effective communication will continue to play a major role in the success of our teams. So let’s do it right!

Transcript

1. @brwngrldev Talk to Me Right!
2. Right? @brwngrldev
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7. @brwngrldev 12
8. Your Turn
9. @brwngrldev 1 Establish relationships
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17. @brwngrldev 2 Have clear guidelines
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22. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS
23. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning
24. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning Coding
25. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning Coding Pull Request
26. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning Coding Pull Request CI Checks
27. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning Coding Pull Request CI Checks Code Review
28. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning Coding Pull Request CI Checks Code Review Regression
29. @brwngrldev WORKFLOWS Planning Coding Pull Request CI Checks Code Review Regression Done
30. @brwngrldev ASSume
31. @brwngrldev HOW TO:
32. @brwngrldev HOW TO: • Daily Stand-ups
33. @brwngrldev HOW TO: • Daily Stand-ups • Ticket Estimation
34. @brwngrldev HOW TO: • Daily Stand-ups • Ticket Estimation • Experiment Design
35. @brwngrldev
36. @brwngrldev Use Automation 3
37. @brwngrldev Source: http://www.alexandra-hill.com
38. @brwngrldev Source: http://www.alexandra-hill.com
39. @brwngrldev A Use a constant.
40. @brwngrldev
41. @brwngrldev
42. @brwngrldev CI
43. @brwngrldev https://youtu.be/1xZHZa1ngo4
44. Your Turn
45. @brwngrldev 4 Use Templates
46. @brwngrldev PRs
47. @brwngrldev PRs
48. @brwngrldev Tem plates
49. @brwngrldev Bug Reports The app crashed unexpectedly. Description:
50. @brwngrldev
51. @brwngrldev Bug Reports
52. @brwngrldev Bug Reports The app crashed unexpectedly. Description: Steps to Reproduce: 1. Open the app, wait for data to load. 2. Click on the “Pie” recipe. 3. App crashes. …
53. @brwngrldev 5 Be explicit
54. @brwngrldev
55. @brwngrldev Hey, IF-312 just came in, it’s high priority. Can you take a look? A
56. @brwngrldev Hey, IF-312 just came in, it’s high priority. Can you take a look? A Sure, no problem. D
57. @brwngrldev 2 hours later Hey, IF-312 just came in, it’s high priority. Can you take a look? A Sure, no problem. D
58. @brwngrldev Where are we with IF-312? Is it fixed? A
59. @brwngrldev Where are we with IF-312? Is it fixed? A No, I haven’t started on it yet. Was finishing another task first. D
60. @brwngrldev A Where are we with IF-312? Is it fixed? A No, I haven’t started on it yet. Was finishing another task first. D
61. @brwngrldev • Define: high priority Be explicit
62. @brwngrldev • Define: high priority • Provide time-constraints Be explicit
63. @brwngrldev Be explicit • Define: high priority • Provide time-constraints • Check for understanding
64. @brwngrldev 6 Liberal use of questions
65. @brwngrldev
66. @brwngrldev Pull Requests
67. @brwngrldev Pull Requests • “Why did we want to do this here?”
68. @brwngrldev Pull Requests • “Why did we want to do this here?” • “Can you explain the motivation for this change?”
69. @brwngrldev Pull Requests • “Why did we want to do this here?” • “Can you explain the motivation for this change?” • “This line confuses me. Is it meant to queue the work?” • …
70. @brwngrldev
71. @brwngrldev 1 on 1 • “What skills would you like to develop right now?”
72. @brwngrldev 1 on 1 • “What skills would you like to develop right now?” • “Do you feel we’re helping you advance your career?”
73. @brwngrldev 1 on 1 • “What skills would you like to develop right now?” • “Do you feel we’re helping you advance your career?” • “What are you working on that you wish you weren’t?” • …
74. @brwngrldev So Far… 1. Establish relationships 2. Have clear guidelines 3. Use automation 4. Use templates 5. Be explicit 6. Make use of questions
75. @brwngrldev 7 Read before clicking send
76. @brwngrldev jeff@mycompany.com My third request… Jeff, This is my third request for your feedback on the latest designs! I need to know if users will be trained on the verification process before I can proceed. Designs attached. Karen
77. @brwngrldev Remix
78. @brwngrldev jeff@mycompany.com [Action Needed]: Final Agent Verification Designs Hey Jeff, We’re working to wrap up the agent verification designs (see attached). Do you know if users will be trained on the process in advance? If you’re not the right person to answer these questions, can you help us out and forward this email along? " Thanks a lot! Karen
79. @brwngrldev
80. @brwngrldev
81. @brwngrldev One of your code changes broke CI, can you fix it?
82. @brwngrldev One of your code changes broke CI, can you fix it? Hey, CI is down for the app. I’ve been able to track it down to a recent change, ZS-1822 (link). Would you be able to take a look. It’s currently blocking the QA team. Thanks #
83. @brwngrldev 8 Have POWERful meetings
84. @brwngrldev
85. P O W E R @brwngrldev
86. Purpose O W E R @brwngrldev
87. Purpose Outcomes W E R @brwngrldev
88. Purpose Outcomes What’s in it for them E R @brwngrldev
89. Purpose Outcomes What’s in it for them Engagement R @brwngrldev
90. Purpose Outcomes What’s in it for them Engagement Roles and responsibilities @brwngrldev
91. @brwngrldev Purpose: Discuss the various available options for a cross- platform mobile solution.
92. @brwngrldev Purpose: Discuss the various available options for a cross- platform mobile solution. Outcomes: Final decision on cross-platform solution documented.
93. @brwngrldev Purpose: Discuss the various available options for a cross- platform mobile solution. Outcomes: Final decision on cross-platform solution documented. Agenda: 5 min: Review the current available options. 10 min: Each person discusses their desired choice and why. 15 min: Decide on final choice and document it. 5 min: Meeting Recap and Summary of Action Items
94. @brwngrldev
95. @brwngrldev 9 Use Data for Objectivity
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97. Velocity @brwngrldev
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99. @brwngrldev Tool Usage
100. @brwngrldev
101. @brwngrldev 920 3,506 0 17.5 35 52.5 70 April May June 1.70 11% 12% 15% 17% 45%
102. Your Turn
103. @brwngrldev 10 Simplify your language
104. @brwngrldev
105. @brwngrldev Jira
106. @brwngrldev Jira In order to support the appropriate validation of users we would like to introduce the capability to capture their personal identification document via a photograph taken by means of the device. All superfluous content should be eliminated before uploading the captured photographs.
107. @brwngrldev
108. @brwngrldev Jira Allow a picture to be taken of users’ personal IDs. Each image should be cropped before upload.
109. @brwngrldev Tips • Use shorter sentences
110. @brwngrldev Tips • Use shorter sentences • Use everyday words
111. @brwngrldev Tips • Use shorter sentences • Use everyday words • Avoid local idioms
112. @brwngrldev
113. @brwngrldev 11 Use visuals
114. @brwngrldev Jira Allow a picture to be taken of users’ personal IDs. Each image should be cropped before upload.
115. @brwngrldev Jira Allow a picture to be taken of users’ personal IDs. Each image should be cropped before upload. Before After
116. @brwngrldev Only certain users are allowed to accept payments via the app based on their role and country. Criteria: *FT Junior Agent in TZ and RW can accept *PT Senior Agent in TZ and RW can accept *FT Junior Agent in NG can accept *…
117. @brwngrldev Only certain users are allowed to accept payments via the app based on their role and country. TZ RW NG PT Junior Agent No No No FT Junior Agent Yes Yes No PT Senior Agent Yes Yes No
118. @brwngrldev 12 Learn about others
119. @brwngrldev Learn
120. @brwngrldev • Communicate Learn
121. @brwngrldev • Communicate • Make Decisions Learn
122. @brwngrldev • Communicate • Make Decisions • Build Trust Learn
123. @brwngrldev relationship-based task-based Trust U.S. Nigeria
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126. @brwngrldev 12 Tips 1. Establish relationships 2. Have clear guidelines 3. Use automation 4. Use templates 5. Be explicit 6. Make use of questions 7. Read before clicking send 8. POWERFUL meetings 9. Use data for objectivity 10.Simplify your language 11.Use visuals 12.Learn about others
127. @brwngrldev
128. @brwngrldev Talk to Me Right!